Myeloma treatment at GenesisCare

According to Cancer Research UK, around 5,800 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed each year in the UK, and it‘s more common in men than women. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the outcome for many patients. 

We are the UK‘s leading specialist private cancer care provider. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your treatment will be managed by a team of specialists working together with you to decide the best personalised care plan for your diagnosis. 

It is our commitment to offering world-class care to every patient with cancer. 

How is myeloma treated?

There are a number of options of treatment available for myeloma at GenesisCare, such as:  

• Chemotherapy – anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs which destroy the cancerous cells 
• Steroids – anti-inflammatory medication that kills cancerous cells and improves the effectiveness of other myeloma treatments 
• Targeted therapy – a specialised group of drugs that attack or block certain processes in the cancer cells, causing them to die  
• Immunotherapy – drugs that help your body‘s immune system recognise and fight the cancer 
• Radiotherapy – high-energy radiation beams which are targeted at the cancer cells 
• Transplants – replace abnormal blood cells and damaged stem cells 

At GenesisCare, we diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers and we understand that this can be a very worrying time for you. Our diagnostic services are world-class and our commitment is to give you the answers you need, as quickly as possible. It‘s important to remember that symptoms can often be caused by conditions other than myeloma cancer. Whatever your diagnosis, we can make sure you get the expert care you need and without delay. 

If you‘re concerned about potential myeloma symptoms, we offer fast access to specialist myeloma tests and diagnostics. We also offer a dedicated Rapid Access Haematology Service at some of our centres. Here you‘ll see one of our expert consultants who specialise in blood and bone marrow cancers. They‘ll assess your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you for diagnostic tests such as blood tests, bone marrow aspirate biopsy, MRI and PET/CT scanning. Appointments are usually available within 24 hours. 

Myeloma doesn‘t always cause symptoms in its early stages, and many people are diagnosed during a routine blood test before they have any noticeable signs.  

The most common myeloma symptoms are bone pain and fracturing, but other warning signs can include: 

• Fatigue 
• Back pain 
• Bone pain 
• Recurring infections 
• Kidney damage 
• Breathlessness 
• Unusual bruising and bleeding 
• Changes in your appetite 

If you have any concerns, you should seek medical advice or book an appointment through our Rapid Access Haematology Service.

Our centres have all received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark to reflect the quality of care we provide for people living with cancer. 

There are different types of drug treatments, also called systemic anti-cancer therapies. Our expert teams continually review and assess new treatments to make these available to GenesisCare patients as early as possible. 

Chemotherapy for myeloma

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancerous cells. It can be used to treat myeloma on its own or alongside other treatments such as steroids and targeted therapies.  

If initial treatment doesn‘t improve your condition, you may have a course of high-dose chemotherapy. Although intensive chemotherapy can successfully treat myeloma, it may also mean that you‘ll need to have a stem cell transplant alongside this treatment. 

Steroids for myeloma 

Steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can be used to fight against myeloma. They can be given on their own to kill the myeloma cells or prescribed alongside other treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy to help improve the effectiveness of treatment.  

Targeted therapy for myeloma

Targeted (also called biological) therapies are a specialised group of drugs that are designed to attack or block certain processes in cancer cells that tumours depend on to survive and grow. We have several targeted therapies available for myeloma treatment which may be combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy and steroids.  

Immunotherapy for myeloma 

Immunotherapy works by helping your body‘s immune system to recognise and fight the cancer. There are several types of immunotherapy available for myeloma, and your doctor will recommend the most appropriate course of treatment according to your condition. 

Relapsed myeloma

If your myeloma returns after previously being treated, it‘s called a relapse. Myeloma often relapses slowly, so when it comes back, you may not need treatment right away. At GenesisCare, you can receive drug treatments for relapsed myeloma to reduce your cancer’s progress and ease any symptoms. Myeloma can cause significant pain and fracturing in your bones, and you may also be given bisphosphonate medicine to help reduce these side effects.  

Clinical trials  

There may be opportunities to access clinical trials for the newest treatments for myeloma. Clinical trials can be considered a suitable treatment option if you‘ve exhausted standard therapies or evidence suggests the trial treatment will be more successful at treating your condition. Your haematologist will discuss these opportunities in more detail with you.  

Drug treatment side effects 

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you depending on your drug treatment, together with the ways in which your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

Radiotherapy uses targeted, high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. It‘s often used to treat areas that have not responded to previous myeloma drug treatments and are causing pain.  

At GenesisCare we are the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK. We offer world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and advanced radiotherapy techniques. Our latest-generation radiotherapy machines (called linacs) deliver highly targeted radiation beams that are designed to be effective while minimising the radiation dose to healthy tissues. 

Your treatment will be governed by our expert multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), consisting of oncologists, radiotherapists and medical physicists. They‘ll work together to ensure that you receive only the best possible care. 

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is a modern radiotherapy technique that directs beams of radiation in an arc across the treatment area. Together with surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT), it‘s possible to precisely target areas of cancer, adjusting the beam and intensity of the radiation dose to allow for movements in the body and avoid healthy tissues. Side effects of radiotherapy occur when healthy tissues receive radiation, so using this technique helps to limit the dose to tissues and organs surrounding the tumour. At GenesisCare, we offer VMAT wherever possible because it is widely recognised to be the highest standard of care currently available for patients needing this type of radiotherapy. 

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you before you start your course of radiotherapy, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

Stem cells are early types of cells which are found in your bone marrow and can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. When treating myeloma, stem cell transplants are used after high-dose chemotherapy to replace the abnormal blood cells and damaged stem cells.  

You‘ll likely have an autologous stem cell transplant, where the stem cells are collected from your body before chemotherapy. You may need an allogenic transplant in some rare instances, where the stem cells have come from an appropriately matched donor.  

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

Exercise medicine is a personalised programme of carefully planned and supported physical activity that has been shown to improve outcomes for cancer patients, enhancing quality of life and limiting the impact of cancer, such as by improving strength and reducing fatigue. One of our physiotherapists specialising in exercise for people living with cancer will provide a 12-week programme tailored to your needs and supported by our dedicated GenesisCare Exercise Medicine app. They’ll work closely with you to monitor changes in your health and support you throughout the programme to help you get the best results. This is available at selected GenesisCare centres. 

We also offer a wellbeing expert and holistic therapies such as counselling, acupuncture, massage and reflexology through our unique partnership with the Penny Brohn UK charity. This service is available to all large bowel cancer patients at any of our 14 UK centres.  

Our dedicated cancer centres are convenient and easy-to-access. You can use your private medical insurance, and we‘re recognised by all leading insurers. 

We are proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Find out more about the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.